dham knew,
moreover, that the real sting of his communication would lie less in
the facts themselves than in Mrs Desmond's probable concealment of
them; and his natural kindliness prompted him to a passing pity for
Evelyn, who, in all likelihood, had not yet penetrated beyond the
outer shell of her husband's strongly marked character.

The only means of tempering the wind to the shorn lamb lay in speaking
first to Honor; and on that idea Wyndham unconditionally turned his
back. Mrs Desmond had brought this thing upon herself. She must face
the consequences as best she might.

But on entering the study, the words he had come to say were checked
upon his lips.

Desmond stood beside the writing-table, where the green shade lay
discarded; and a noticeable scar on his right cheek was all that now
remained of the wound which had threatened such serious results. His
whole attention was centred upon Rob, who pranced at his feet with
ungainly caperings, flinging dignity to the winds, and testifying,
with heart and voice and eloquent tail, to the joy that was in him.

Paul's sensitive soul revolted from the necessity of imparting ill
news at such a moment; and it was Desmond who spoke first.

"Mackay's been here this minute making a final examination of my eyes.
Gave me leave, thank God, to discard _that_ abomination; and Rob
hasn't left off congratulating me since I flung it on the table. The
little beggar seems to understand what's happened just as well as I
do." He turned on Wyndham with a short satisfied laugh. "By Jove,
Paul, it's thundering good to look _you_ squarely in the face again!
But why,--what's the trouble, old man? Have you heard bad news?"

"Not very bad, but certainly--unpleasant."

"And you came to tell me?"

"Yes, I came to tell you."

Desmond motioned him to a chair; and, as he seated himself with
unhurried deliberation, laid a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.

"What is it?" he asked. "The Regiment or yourself?"

"Neither."

"Well, then----?"

"It concerns _you_, my dear Theo," Paul answered slowly. "And it is
about--your wife."

Desmond frowned sharply, and Wyndham saw the defensive look spring
into his eyes.

"Do you mean----? Has there been an accident?"

"No--no; nothing of that sort. I'm sorry to have been so clumsy."

"She is quite safe? Nothing wrong with her?"

"Nothing whatever."

Desmond's mouth took an expression Wyndham knew well. An enemy might
have called it pig-headed